Getting Oriented on Price Mountain

Gail Rheinheimer

This is a walk we've done so rarely that we've tried to start out in the wrong direction both times. And both times it was I who needed to get the map oriented to reality.

Yet the Price Mountain loop has lots to recommend it. It's easy to get to (about seven miles from U.S. 220 out of Fincastle on Va. 606), offers a little stream-side stretch and then climbs to walk a ridgeline that feels higher than its 2,200 feet max, and then returns gently to the little parking area.

It also appears relatively little-used, as along its first section – heading down from the high point on the road near the Botetourt/Craig counties line – there were spots where it had been narrowed by trail-side growth to nearly no trail at all, a worrisome development to The Day Hiker especially in this Summer of Tick Awareness.

We found a spot with a bit of a view to the west for lunch. Even better than the view was the blue sky above the full-green of the trees above us and a nice breeze coming in from the west.

How to get there: U.S. 220 north out of Roanoke into Fincastle; left on Va. 606 for about 7 miles to parking on the right.